Message from QSD Chairman (November 2014)

2014 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum

I represented the QSD Council in attending the 2014 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban – Rural Development, the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (廣西壯族自治區人民政府) and the Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government from 9 – 11 November 2014 in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The delegation comprising the Hon Secretary of the Institute, Sr Thomas Ho, the Immediate Past President, Sr Stephen Lai and representatives from various divisions was led by our President, Sr Simon Kwok. The theme of the forum was “協同發展 / 放眼世界 / 創新科技 / 綜合管理”.

 

The QSD Council was honoured to have two senior members deliver talks at the Forum. Sr K C Tang talked about “如向享用BIM時代的來臨” while Sr Gilbert Kwok’s talk was focused on legal issues. The topic of Sr Kwok was “內地或香港的 承包商進入中東、非洲和亞洲區等地的建築市場和當地承包商合作需要注意的事宜”. The talks were well received by delegates from the Mainland and Hong Kong.

 

Visit to the Tertiary Education Institutes

1. The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), Tsing Yi

Sr Thomas Ho, together with Sr K L Wong visited the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), Tsing Yi Campus on 27 October 2014. There was a big turn out at the session by students studying for a Higher Diploma in Building Studies / Surveying. The students showed keen interest on the routes leading to a professional qualification. Our members explained not only the pathway leading to professional qualification, but also the job opportunities of IVE graduates. The session was well received by students.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the teaching staff of IVE Tsing Yi Campus, in particular, Sr Dr Ken Hui for organising the visit with the QSD Council. My sincere thanks also go to Sr Thomas Ho and Sr K L Wong for attending the visit.

 

2. The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), Morrison Hill

The QSD Council paid a visit to the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), Morrison Hill Campus on 30 October 2014. We were very pleased to interact with more than 140 students studying the Higher Diploma in Surveying during the session which lasted for one and half hours. Students raised questions regarding the routes leading to a professional qualification and the career prospects of being a construction technician.  We also shared our experiences in respect of the work of surveyors in different sectors of the real estate and construction industries.

 

Many thanks go to Sr Thomas Ho and Sr K L Wong for joining me in the visit. I would also like to express our gratitude to Sr Dr Ken Hui and the teaching staff of the IVE for organising the event.

 

3. The City University of Hong Kong

The Promotion Sub-committee organised a visit to the City University of Hong Kong on 17 November 2014.

 

Approximately 40 final year students reading for the Bachelor of Science in Surveying attended the event. In order to let students gain a more thorough understanding of the work of surveyors employed in different sectors of the real estate and construction industries, we invited a number of Council members from different backgrounds to join us in sharing some of their practical experiences. The event was proved to be very useful for students wishing to select their career path.

 

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Sr Thomas Ho, Sr K L Wong, Sr Jesse Wong and Sr Stephen Lam for their kind support for the visit. I would also like to thank Dr Daisy Yeung and Dr Calvin Keung of City University of Hong Kong and our Sr Dr Ken Hui for their kind assistance in organising the visit for us.

 

4. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

This was the last visit to a university during the 2013 / 2014 Council Year. More than 30 students turned up to attend the briefing session on 18 November 2014 at the University Campus. Sr K L Wong gave an introduction on some of the background information of the Institute as well as that of the QSD Council. Other Council Members shared their experiences in respect of the different functions of professional quantity surveyors. Many students found the briefing session to be very useful.

 

Many thanks go to Sr K L Wong, Sr Honby Chan, Sr Sunny Choi, Sr Joseph Chong, Sr Stephen Lam and Sr Sam Cheng for joining the visit.

 

Meeting with Mainland’s Counterparts

1. 深圳市建設工程造價管理站及深圳市造價工程師協會

The Council organised a joint meeting with 深圳市建設工程造價管理站 and 深圳市造價工程師協會 in the morning of 21 November 2014 in Shenzhen. We had the pleasure to meet 李冬青(女士)站長、劉衍偉副站長 and other representatives from 造價管理站 and 造價工程師協會.

 

During the meeting the following items were discussed:

  •  the current status of managing cost engineering consultancy firms in Shenzhen and its future development;
  • the current status of managing professional cost engineers and technicians as well as its future development;
  • the current situation on management of qualifications for registration;
  • the use of「建設工程工程量清單計價規範」(GB50500-2013) in Shenzhen

 

The fruitful meeting enabled us to have a more thorough understanding on the function and practice of 深圳造價管理站.

 

2. 廣東省建設工程造價管理總站及廣東省工程造價協會

The joint meeting with 廣東省建設工程造價管理總站及廣東省工程造價協會was held on 21 November 2014 in Guangzhou, three years after the last meeting. It was high time that there should be an update on the management and development of cost engineering consultancy practices in Guangzhou. Apart from those similar topics which were raised in the morning session with 深圳市建設工程造價管理站, and which were discussed once again with the Guangzhou counterpart, we managed to take some time to share experiences on cost engineering courses in tertiary educational institutes and continuing professional development. Both parties agreed that we should meet on a regular basis for the enhanced development of the industry both in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sr Thomas Ho, Sr T T Cheung, Sr Francis Leung, Sr Antony Man, Sr K L Wong, Sr Raymond Kam, Sr Raymond Kong and Sr Joseph Chong for joining me in visiting the counterparts in Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

 

International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) 2014 – 9th World Congress

Milan, Italy

1. General

Sr T T Cheung, the Past President of the Institute and Administrative Vice Chairman of ICEC and I represented the QSD Council in attending the above biennial Congress which was organized jointly by the Italian Association for Total Cost Management (AICE) and the Italian Federation of Scientific and Technical Associations (FAST). It was held on 18 – 22 October 2014 in Milan, Italy. The theme of the Congress was “Re-engineering Total Cost Management”.

 

2. Council Meeting

The 39th Council Meeting was held on 18 to 19th October 2014 at AICE Head Office, Milan, Italy. Sr T T Cheung, Administrative Vice Chairman of ICEC and I represented the HKIS in joining the Full Council Meeting.

 

2.1 Salient Discussion Items

At the Council Meeting, the following salient items were discussed:

      ICEC Governance Structure – Update & Strategic Directions

      ICEC Strategic Plan – Revisions

      ICEC Action Plan 2014 – 2016

      Memorandum of Co-operation (MOCs)

-       ICEC / PAQS MOC (Signed on 9 June 2014 in Hong Kong)

-       ICEC / AAQS MOC (approved for signing at the Council Meeting of 18 October 2014)

      New ICEC Member Associations - Deutscher Verband der Projekmanager (DVP; Germany)

      Application approved on 15 November 2013

-       Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS; Canada)

      Application approved on 4 June 2014

-       Societe de Management de Projets (SMaP; France)

      Application approved at Council Meeting of 18 October 2014

      Co-operation with other International Bodies

-       African Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS)

-       International Federation of Surveyors (FIG Commission 10)

-       International Project Management Association (IPMA)

-       Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS)

      ICEC World Congresses

-       10th World Congress 2016 – Region 1, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

-       11th World Congress 2018 – Region 4, Sydney, Australia (Successful after bidding)

      United Nations / UN Habitat

      Kenneth Humphrey’s Outstanding Paper Award for Young and Student Members

      Election of Officers for 2014 – 2016

      Budget and Subscription Fees for 2014 – 2016

      ICEC 2014 Awards

 

2.2 Election of Officers for 2014 – 2016

At the Council Meeting the following Officers were elected:

Chair Dr Alexia Nalewaik (USA)

Senior Vice Chair T T Cheung (Hong Kong)

Administrative Vice Chair Kwadwo Osei-Asante (Ghana)

Administrative Vice Chair Andrej Kerin (Slovenia)

Technical Vice Chair Angelo do Valle (Brazil)

Secretary – General Dr Peter Smith (Australia)

Immediate Past Chair Carsten Wredstrom (Denmark)

 

Our Past Chairman, Sr Dr Paul Ho, was elected as Region 4 Deputy Director – Academic Forums / Research. In addition Mr Roger Batten (ICEC Chair 1996 – 1998) was elected as Advisory Board Chair.

 

It is noted that our Past President, Sr T T Cheung will be elected as Chair of the Executive Board of the ICEC in two years time when the Board meets again in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. He will then be the first Chinese to lead a global professional organization which has member societies / institutes located in more than 40 countries from five continents (i.e. Region 1 – America; Region 2 – Europe; Region 3 – Africa; Region 4 – Asia Pacific (including Australia and New Zealand)).

 

Congratulations to Sr T T Cheung and Sr Dr Paul Ho on their success in being elected as Senior Vice Chair and Deputy Director of Region 4 respectively. We trust that both of them will help push the quantity surveying profession in Hong Kong to a higher international level during their tenures.

 

2.3 Awards

2.3.1 Distinguished International Fellow Awards (DIF)

The DIF Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the ICEC and to the association or institute of which they are a member for a period of years on the development of the cost management profession. In addition the individuals must have held a significant volunteer position in both the ICEC and a member association or institute. This year the DIF Awards go to:

Mr. Carsten Wredstrom - DPM (Denmark)

Mr. Alan Baltrop – AcostE (United Kingdom)

Mr. Sam Griggs - AACE (USA)

Mr. Paulo Roberto Vilela Dias - IBEC (Brazil)

Mr. Jose Chacon de Assis - IBEC (Brazil)

 

2.3.2 ICEC Region & Chairman’s Awards

Sr Dr Paul Ho was presented with the ICEC Region 4 (Asia-Pacific) Award for his significant contributions to the work of the Council.

 

2.3.3 Kenneth Humphrey’s Outstanding Paper Award for Young and Student Members

The award is given to young practitioners or students under 36 years of age. The awards are available for the three professional categories which make up the membership of ICEC i.e. cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management. The 2014 Award winners are:

  • Cost Engineering Award – Nakisa Alborzford (USA – AACE) Paper Title : A Framework for Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Sustainability Features in Buildings
  • Quantity Surveying Award – Justin Haselan (South Africa – ASAQS) Paper Title : Alterative Construction Methods for Low Cost Housing in South Africa
  • Project Management Award –